Makerere suspends planned 15% tuition increment

A proposed tuition increase at Makerere University has been put on hold for two years.
In view of the COVID-19 epidemic and financial limitations, Guild President Ivan Ssempijja urged the university administration to stop the 15 percent tuition increase policy earlier this month.

The student leaders also requested that functional costs, which are included in tuition, be waived. They say that online classes do not allow students to fully utilize paid services such as sports, residence halls, and the library.

The university’s 15 percent policy stipulates that tuition would rise by 15 percent per academic year for the following five years.

The policy went into force with students registered for the 2019/2020 academic year, causing a ruckus among students who said it would deprive children from low-income families access to school. A meeting of the Guild and the University Council was held on Friday to discuss the situation.

According to University Vice-Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the council listened to the students’ plea and the raise has been put on hold for the next two years.

“Today, the Makerere University Council put a two-year moratorium on the 15 percent yearly tuition price increase. I appreciate the Council’s favorable response to the COVID-19 situation,” he stated.
As a result of the decision, future entrants to Makerere University will pay the same tuition as the 2019 intake for the following two years.
Maurice Okirya, a fourth-year Bachelor of Laws student, praised the student leadership for sticking with the students at a tough period.

What an eventful day! Nothing makes me prouder than delivering on our promises. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Okirya remarked.

During the Covid-19 crisis, private colleges such as Uganda Christian University abolished functional fees, while the Islamic University of Uganda (IUIU) abolished housing costs.